Microwave cavity perturbation technique: Part I: Principles

This report reviews the analysis used to extract the complex conductivity of a compound from a microwave cavity perturbation measurement. We intend to present a generalized treatment valid for any spheroidally shaped sample of arbitrary conductivity which is placed at either the electric or magnetic field antinode of the cavity. To begin with, we establish the relationship between the measured parameters and the conductivity for a spherical sample. Next, we extend these results to the case of spheroids; and for the first time, we cover all different configurations that one can possibly use to study an arbitrary conducting sample inside a cavity: in particular, all possible orientations of the sample with respect to the applied field are solved.     

Thermophysical Properties of Binary Mixtures of Methyl Methacrylate+Di-Ethers (Ethyl, Isopropyl, and Butyl) at 298.15 and 308.15 K

Experimental data for the densities, dynamic viscosities, sound speeds, and relative permittivities and for three binary systems of methyl methacrylate (MMA)+di-ethers (ethyl, isopropyl, and butyl) at 298.15 and 308.15 K and at atmospheric pressure are reported. The mixture viscosities are correlated by Grunberg–Nissan, McAllister, and Auslander equations over the complete composition range. The sound speeds for the mixtures are also calculated by using free length and collision factor theories, and Nomoto and Junjie equations. From the measured primary properties, deviation functions such as deviations in viscosities, sound speeds, relative permittivities, molar polarizations, excess isentropic compressibilities, and molar electrical susceptibilities were calculated, and the compositional dependence of each of the functions was expressed with a Redlich–Kister type equation. The variation of the Kirkwood correlation factor was determined over the complete composition range.     

Beyond Wiener–Askey Expansions: Handling Arbitrary PDFs

In this paper we present a Multi-Element generalized Polynomial Chaos (ME-gPC) method to deal with stochastic inputs with arbitrary probability measures. Based on the decomposition of the random space of the stochastic inputs, we construct numerically a set of orthogonal polynomials with respect to a conditional probability density function (PDF) in each element and subsequently implement generalized Polynomial Chaos (gPC) locally. Numerical examples show that ME-gPC exhibits both p- and h-convergence for arbitrary probability measures     

Flame temperature, fuel structure, and fuel concentration effects on soot formation in inverse diffusion flames

Insights into soot formation processes are gained from chemical sampling and thermocouple probing of co-flowing inverse diffusion flames (IDFs), with the oxidizer in the center. The transition from near-to slightly sooting flames and the effects of flame temperature, fuel concentration, and fuel structure (using methane, ethene, propene and 1-butene) are investigated. The aromatic content of IDFS scales with the fuel's sooting tendency, and suggests that the formation of the aromatic ring is a controlling step in soot formation. In addition to the relatively well-established reactions involving C4 and C2 species, benzene may form directly from two C3 species for fuels that readily produce C3 species during pyrolysis and/or oxidative pyrolysis. The total concentration of growth species increases almost linearly with fuel concentration, but depends more weakly on flame temperature than would be expected if pure pyrolysis governed the intermediate hydrocarbon behavior.     

Controlled Elemental Depth Profile in Sol–Gel-Derived PZT Films

Elemental depth profiles of PZT films prepared by two sol–gel formulations, differing in the zirconium precursor stabilization, were investigated by SIMS analysis. Early decomposition of the zirconium precursor yielded opposing gradients of zirconium and titanium, while simultaneous late decomposition of zirconium and titanium precursors provided profile uniformity. The gradients formed during initial crystallization are irreversible. Both types of films showed excellent hysteresis; however, uniform films exhibited a much higher dielectric constant, indicating superior piezoelectric properties. Non-uniform films displayed a complex CV pattern, consistent with an inhomogeneous structure. Finally, thermal decomposition of the individual metal precursors is crucial for controlling film uniformity.     

Time‐dependent heat transfer coefficient of a wall

A time‐dependent coefficient of heat transfer is proposed for the computation of thermal power required, so that a room temperature reaches a desired value within a given time. A mathematical formulation of the room heating transient phenomenon is constructed in a dimensionless form. Using an integral approximate solution an analytical expression for this coefficient is provided and it is verified by diagrams adopted by DIN 4701. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.